FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  The Monarchs delivered, unquestionably, their best performance of the season with a 104-70 rout of visiting William Peace University in the quarterfinals of the USA South Conference Tournament Tuesday evening.

The 104 points scored by the Monarchs were a season-high and the 34-point win is the largest margin of victory since the 2004-2005 season. The fact that the game was tied at halftime makes victory margin more impressive.

Methodist waited until what could have possibly been their last game of the season to shine brightest, breaking all types of season records and season-highs. The 14 three-pointers on 56 percent shooting from deep, and 40 shots made from the field were all season-highs.

Sam Mingledoff and Kevin McLaughlin Jr. each set their season-highs in points and three pointers made.

Long story short, Methodist is playing their best ball of the season and it cannot come at a better time as the Monarchs advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament to take on host Covenant (Ga.) College on Friday at 7 p.m.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. William Peace, 104-70
Records: Methodist 14-12, N.C. Wesleyan 13-13
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Camden Ferguson hit a three to cut the deficit to seven points, the Monarchs went on a rampage, making four straight shots from downtown, including two by McLaughlin Jr. Methodist would go on to make 10-of-11 three-pointers in the final 12 minutes to lead by as many as 38 points in the game.
• You would be hard-pressed to find a better second-half performance anywhere with the Monarchs outscoring the Pacers, 64-30 in the final frame. Methodist shot 24-of-32 (75 percent) from the field and 10-of-15 (67 percent) from downtown in the last period.
• At one point, William Peace had control of the game, leading by as many as 13 points midway through the first half. The Pacers used an 11-0 run to turn a one-point lead into a 23-11 advantage.
• The Monarchs responded with an even more impressive 15-0 run to storm back to take the lead at 31-29 with Mingledoff making two free throws to break a tie. William Peace later retook the lead but a three-point play by Malik Manley tied the game up at 40 entering halftime.
• After five lead changes and four ties in the first half, all Methodist needed was one more lead change for the win. A bucket by Mitchell broke the 40-40 tie and ignited a 10-0 run.

SEASON-HIGHS AND STAT FACTS

• The 25 assists were the first time Methodist topped 20 assists since January of 2014.
• Mingledoff led the team with 20 points and four-of-six shooting from behind the arc. He also had six rebounds and two steals.
• Dante Burden tied his season-high with nine assists to go with 18 points, six rebounds, and four steals. He was 7-of-11 from the field.
• McLaughlin Jr. led the bench unit that outscored the Pacers' team in the second half, 38-30. He had 15 points, including five-of-six from downtown. He also had three assists, three boards, and two steals.
• It was not just offensively where Methodist was setting new season-highs. The defense held the Pacers to 38.3 percent shooting, a season-best for the Monarchs. It was a tale of two halves for William Peace as the Pacers went from 52 percent shooting in the first half to nine-of-33 (27 percent) from the field and three-of-18 (16.7 percent) from deep in the second. Even their free throw shooting fell off a cliff, going seven-of-eight (87.5 percent) in the first and nine-of-19 (47 percent) in the final frame.

TOURNEY TIME

• The Monarchs travel to Lookout Mountain, Georgia, to play Covenant on Friday at 7 p.m. The Scots advanced to the semis after defeating Huntingdon 67-66.
• On the other side of the bracket, Maryville (Tenn.) is at home to take on Averett. The Cougars upset top-seeded N.C. Wesleyan, 82-78 to advance and Maryville defeated LaGrange, 91-77, to move on in the tournament bracket.